Judge sentences career criminal to 30 years

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- A Superior Court judge sentenced career criminal Laurence Kompkoff to 30 years in prison for attempting to rape a woman and shooting her finger off during a struggle.

''I think that's a long enough period of time where people will be safe when he gets out or at least much safer,'' Judge Mary Greene said. ''At that time, if he serves his entire sentence, he will be 85 years old when he is released. Even with good time, he'll be 75.''

Kompkoff, 55, was sentenced Friday for one count each of first-degree attempted sexual assault and first-degree assault.

The judge said Kompkoff is a ''genuinely nice guy'' when sober, but his behavior becomes violent when he drinks.

Before he ever met his latest victim, Kompkoff had four violent felony convictions dating back 27 years. In 1973, he received a light sentence for assault with a dangerous weapon after ''he held a gun to an acquaintance's head, took out a knife and stabbed him in the stomach and chest,'' Greene said.

Three years later, he was again convicted of assault with a deadly weapon after he slashed his stepfather's throat. The man lived because Kompkoff missed his jugular.

In 1979, he was convicted for sexual assault after he followed a woman home from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, broke down her door and raped her.

And four months after getting out of prison for that crime, he was convicted of first-degree burglary after what appeared to be a thwarted sexual assault. Again, he attacked a female acquaintance by breaking down her door. In this 1990 attack, he held a knife to the victim's throat and told her he would rape her. A child called 911 for help.

As a result of his latest attack on Jan. 11, his victim had to undergo extensive surgery after losing her finger during the struggle. The victim attempted to block Kompkoff's gun with her hand. He fired, severing her finger near the base. After originally repairing the injury, doctors began a series of operations to help improve the victim's typing skills, which are her livelihood.

''I'm sorry you've gone through the pain you have,'' he said. ''I'm sorry about your physical handicap. I'm sorry that I changed your life the way I have. There's no one to blame but myself. I put myself in the position to drink alcohol.''